Medivac Bill
Q. Earlier this year, the Federal Parliament passed legislation to allow doctors, not politicians, more say in determining the appropriate medical treatment offered to people in offshore detention. This may include medical evacuation (Medivac) transfer to Australia if necessary.
Which of the following statements most closely aligns with your views of this legislation?
Nov’19 | Sep’19 | Feb’19 | |
This legislation does not go far enough to provide humane treatment for people in offshore detention | 25% | 23% | 16% |
This legislation strikes a balance between strong borders and humane treatment for people in offshore detention | 37% | 41% | 38% |
This legislation will weaken our borders and result in boats arriving in Australia as they have in the past | 22% | 20% | 30% |
Unsure | 17% | 18% | 16% |
Base (n) | 1,083 | 1,093 | 1,085 |
Total | Gender | Age | ||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
This legislation does not go far enough to provide humane treatment for people in offshore detention | 25% | 24% | 26% | 28% | 26% | 21% |
This legislation strikes a balance between strong borders and humane treatment for people in offshore detention | 37% | 39% | 35% | 42% | 34% | 35% |
This legislation will weaken our borders and result in boats arriving in Australia as they have in the past | 22% | 23% | 20% | 10% | 21% | 33% |
Unsure | 17% | 14% | 19% | 20% | 20% | 11% |
Base (n) | 1,083 | 527 | 556 | 329 | 369 | 385 |
Total | Voting Intention | ||||
Labor | Coalition | Greens | NET: Other | ||
This legislation does not go far enough to provide humane treatment for people in offshore detention | 25% | 33% | 15% | 51% | 19% |
This legislation strikes a balance between strong borders and humane treatment for people in offshore detention | 37% | 38% | 44% | 29% | 27% |
This legislation will weaken our borders and result in boats arriving in Australia as they have in the past | 22% | 14% | 29% | 6% | 39% |
Unsure | 17% | 15% | 12% | 15% | 15% |
Base (n) | 1,083 | 342 | 373 | 93 | 162 |
- A quarter of people (25%) believe that the Medivac legislation does not go far enough to provide humane treatment for people in offshore detention. This has increased from earlier this year in February, when just 16% believed so.
- 37% believe that the Medivac legislation strikes a balance between strong borders and humane treatment for people in offshore detention – the same level as in Feb’19 (38%).
Approval of Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison in handling the issue of asylum seekers?
Total
|
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
Total approve |
39% |
18% |
72% |
7% |
33% |
|
Total disapprove |
39% |
59% |
12% |
83% |
45% |
|
Strongly approve |
13% |
3% |
28% |
5% |
8% |
|
Approve |
26% |
15% |
44% |
2% |
25% |
|
Disapprove |
19% |
26% |
9% |
25% |
25% |
|
Strongly disapprove |
20% |
33% |
3% |
58% |
20% |
|
Don’t know |
22% |
23% |
15% |
9% |
22% |
39% approve of the performance of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison in handling the issue of asylum seekers and 39% disapprove.
Those most likely to approve were Liberal/National voters (72%) and aged 55+ (53%).
Those most likely to disapprove were Labor voters (59%), Greens voters (83%) and aged under 35 (46%).
Other issue of most concern
Q. And which of these other issues are you personally most concerned about?
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ indep-endent |
|
2 Sep 13 |
19 Nov |
|
Climate change |
21% |
28% |
10% |
44% |
20% |
16% |
22% |
||
Border security |
21% |
11% |
36% |
6% |
15% |
30% |
21% |
||
Treatment of the aged |
20% |
21% |
21% |
8% |
22% |
17% |
18% |
||
Marriage equality |
11% |
14% |
9% |
20% |
8% |
9% |
9% |
||
Population growth |
10% |
12% |
8% |
10% |
14% |
12% |
14% |
||
Treatment of the disabled |
9% |
9% |
8% |
9% |
16% |
7% |
8% |
||
None of them |
5% |
4% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
5% |
4% |
||
Don’t know |
3% |
2% |
2% |
– |
1% |
4% |
4% |
21% were most concerned about climate change, 21% were most concerned about border security, and 20% treatment of the aged.
There has been little change since this question was asked in November.
Border security (36%) was the main issue of concern to Liberal/National voters and 44% of Greens voters and 28% of Labor voters nominated climate change.
Other issue of most concern
Q. And which of these other issues are you personally most concerned about?
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Border security |
30% |
20% |
48% |
5% |
|
Climate change |
16% |
23% |
5% |
45% |
|
Population growth |
12% |
10% |
13% |
4% |
|
Marriage equality |
9% |
11% |
4% |
24% |
|
Treatment of the aged |
17% |
21% |
16% |
12% |
|
Treatment of the disabled |
7% |
10% |
4% |
7% |
|
None of them |
5% |
3% |
7% |
4% |
|
Don’t know |
4% |
2% |
3% |
– |
30% were most concerned about border security, 17% treatment of the aged and 16% climate change.
Border security (48%) was the main issue of concern to Liberal/National voters and 45% of Greens voters nominated climate change.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this week's ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred:
In this week's report:
Essential Tags
Recent Comments
